Do you know why people love the first day of school? The start of a New Year? The first day of fall?
Because they find the idea of a clean slate exhilarating. They want to make changes or start fresh.
Looking for the chance to have a clean slate doesn’t mean that people don’t like the life they live. It means that they suspect they’re missing something. Something that might be more fulfilling than what they currently have.
Have you ever felt that way?
The truth, however, is that those clean slate possibilities are always within our reach. We don’t have to wait for the first day of something to have that fresh start.
Having the life we want, though, means we have to change course. We have to be willing to pivot, that is, make a turn in what we’re doing.
8 ways to get a fresh start in life
Here are eight pivots to turn your life into what you want it to be.
- Understand your fear, then put it in its place and move on.
Fear has no power unless you give it power. Fear doesn’t change the end result, and often it causes more damage than whatever it was you were so worried about. Think about the biggest fear you’ve ever had. What was the outcome? Did you recover? Chances are you came out the other end just fine.
Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. ~Judy Blume
2. Be courageous.
Courage is like exercising a muscle. The more you use it, the easier it becomes, and the more you benefit. We’re taught to avoid pain and danger. We lose out when we do that too much. We have to choose to face life with courage, knowing that in the end, it’s how you handle fear and how you respond to that fear that can change the course of your life. We go for the fresh start no matter our fears.
3. Be thoughtful about what you compromise on.
Compromising too much can steal your life and dreams. To work for or spend time with someone who doesn’t share your values is a compromise. That kind of compromise can rob you of your energy. It also affects your momentum.
4. Find mentors you admire.
It’s less painful and more efficient to learn from the mistakes and successes of others: a family member, teacher or business leader you admire. Learn from them and emulate them in your everyday life.
5. Dream without restraint.
Thinking about what you want to do only in the context of what you know you can do is more of a nightmare than a dream. Pursue your goals with all you have. Don’t be concerned with failing. The journey and the struggle can be extremely satisfying. It rivals the attainment of a goal.
6. Be honest with yourself.
Many people lie to themselves about whom or what is most important to them. Lying sets off a chain reaction that stalls momentum and makes your life a little less than what it should be. Even small lies chip away at the person you want to be.
7. Be impatiently focused.
We have a limited a number of breaths to build the world around us. Focus on a goal and don’t wait for the right moment or perfect conditions to go for it. Time matters. Go for it.
Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something. ~Ralph Marston
8. Control what you can control and forget about the rest.
Every moment you spend lamenting a situation you can’t control is a moment you’re stealing from yourself. Direct your energy and momentum to something you can manage instead.
Before you change course and start over, spend some time revisiting what matters most to you. Ask yourself a few questions. What are your values? What are your likes and dislikes? What do you want to do with your life?
Make a list of your answers.
Then, dream boldly and act to make your fresh start a reality.
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Today’s guest contributor is John C. Neyland, president and Investment Advisor Representative at JCN Financial & Tax Planning Group. John is the author of How to Live the Life You’ve Yet to Dream, a blueprint for getting more out of life and leaving a positive mark on the world.
Image credit before quote added: Pixabay
